Gas heater



Filed Dec. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 is EE- 1:?" ifeA/wc if 74 600,

18 mil/AM G. 641277-52,

may

Oct. 19, 1943. I F. E. WOOD ET AL I 2,331,950

GAS HEATER Filed Dec. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I fkAMz 5. 7 1 500,

Will/AM 6. 6427752,

12 a3 a V Patented Oct. 19, 1943 Frank fi wood and William Cartter, Moi 1} rovia, Calif}, assignors to Day and Night Water tion Heater 00., Ltdq Monrovia, Calif 21. corpora- Application December 4, 1939, Serial No. 307,434

' 6 Claims. (o l2692) I Cur invention relates to heating apparatus and particularly to gas heaters ofa type suitable for installation in the wall of a room;

It is an object of our invention to providea wall gas heater-which combines circulating and radiant heat,.part of the heat from the burner being distributed by induction, and part being distributed through the agency of a radiant mantle the heat from which is reflected and radi ated toward the region to be warmed.

There is a tendency of'previous wall heaters with which'we are familiar to dissipate too much heat into the wall immediately adjacent to the heater, due to contact of the metal parts of the heater with the wall structure and'inadequate air vents and heat insulating spaces. This results not only in added fuel consumption but discoloration or bleaching of the walls i I It is therefore another objectbf our invention to rovide a gas heater of the type described which embodies air vents and heat insulating spaces of such design as to effectively insulate the wall structure from the burner. element of the heater. v

We have also observed a tendency in heaters of this type to crack the paint or enamel onthe frame of the heater especially above theburner, and to badly discolor it. 7

Therefore, another object is to provide in a heater of the character described a radiant mantle in association with a heat reflector of a novel design, which reflects the radiant-heat into an area on a plane nearthe floor of the room,

thereby insuring proper distribution of heated air,

as well as eliminating wall discoloration and the cracking or discoloring of paint or enamel on the frame of the heater.

A further object of our invention is to provide a heater of the character described, which is manufactured in units facilitating installation and assembly at the place of use. Q

An additional object is to provide me heater of the character described a removable front or grill, which combines the functions of ornamentation, protection and certain other functions to be described, and which, upon removal, renders the burner assembly readily accessible. I

Another additional object of our invention is to provide in a heater of this type a frame and grill of light weight metal, which can be p-resse and conveniently enameled in units.

A further additional object is to provide in a heater of this character a frame to be. mounted in a wall, and a grill removably secured to the "frame in a manneraccommodating expansion and contraction of the grill in the frame.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken-in connection with the drawings.

i In the drawings,

T Figure 1 is -.a front perspective view of our heater. a Figure 2 is a vertical section of-the heater,

taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 and is shown installed in a fragment of wall structure; V

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the heater, with I the frontor grill removed.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the takenon the line 4-4 of Figure 1.-

Our heater-is preferably made in three princi pal units, designated a rough-in box M, a frame heater,

' assembly I I, and a front or grill l2.

The rough-in, box It comprises a sheet metal housing, consisting of a backl3, -sides l4, andv .a top [5. This housing is open at the front and,

at the bottom- At the forward edges of the sides I 4 are welded or otherwise secured angle brackets l6 formed with holes by which nails orscrews H may be employed to mount the rough-in box a on a wall 13, inwhich an opening of suitabledimensions to freely accommodatethe box ha be'en previously made. It is desirable to have a slight clearance between the sides of the box and, the

adjacent wall structure. A horizontal angle umember 1e extends between the walls-l4 at the lower end for the purpose of spacing and bracing-the walls at this point. r

Secured tothe forward edges of the wall lfl honthe inside by welding or any other suitable means, are vertical brackets Zllprovided with suitably spaced holes for the reception of screws 2 I, the function of which is later described.

- The frameassembly H comprises in general a frame 25, an inner-box 26, a burner assembly 21,

and a reflector 28. r I

'-The frame 251s preferably fabricated of sheet I steel'pressed in the rectangular form illustrated in the drawings. This frame has exposed vertical members and horizontal members 3i, which define a rectangular area having rounded corners g as illustrated. Theup-per horizontal member 3| I is formed with a slot 32 for ventilating purposes 'as later explained. The members 3!] and 3| are U-shaped in cross-section, forming in effectan enlarged beadraised from the wall surface inwhich the heater may be installed. The frame may be enameled, or otherwise treated o-n'the exposd'surface to give it the desired ornamental appearance.

the grill l! in place, as will be subsequently axe plained. Mounted on the lower member 3| is a' pair of conventional spring catches 3S, whichico operate with the grill and the tongues .to removably hold the grill in position.

The frame forms an ornamental enclosure over the area where the rough-in box and the wall join, and the rough-in box supports the inner box 26, the burner assemblyfll'and the'refiector 28. j Y

The inner box 26 has a top 49, a back 4|, and 'si'des l2 which are spaced from the top, back -and sides respectively of the rough-in box -19. This irmer box "26, like the rough in -box, is open at thefront-an'd bottom.

Extending for a sub'stantial pcrtion 'f'the verc.

tical length of the inner box lfl-and-secured t the marginal edges 6fthe-sides' 42,-'by welding or in any desired manner, are vertical brackets-'43 which have' 'a central U-shaped section M that nts-over thesi es fl. These brackets 43 2.150"

have lateral outward -ex-ten'sions l 1 and inward *extensionsifi;

The extensions 4-5are"formed-withholes corre- 33, these two latter elements and 'the flange 45 "thus supported bythe roug h in bcx HI The burner-assembiyfl'l is. inturn, supported "-by the'innen box 26. "This bumerassembly=com "prisesa=conventionaliuel suppI pipe' S-U 'and valve 51 above-"which pipe positioneda burner 5 I a of any Fdesire'dtype. Below the burner is a- 'heat "fifiecting disc '52, "restingon "an' air shutter 5.51, aivhi'ch is coupled'to'an i-ipwardly extending nipple M of'the-supplyprpewfi. Thesri-prbly pipepasses "through a- U -'shaped bracket "member 55 and a *protecti-ng shield 56 *and -is positioned =-on -'the brack'et' and'protecting shiem by anut ST. 'The aU-sl'xape'd bracket 55*is welded or otherwise at- "tabhed to*a'"--ey1indrical "housing 21 which -en- "closestheburner. Welded or'otherwise attached wo this cylindrical 'housingare'ears '58,-"which extend outwardly on oppositesides i-n-toengagement the brack'et member 43. to which" they are "secured by screws 59, as illustrated. The burner asserrilz'ly is thus supported upon the inner b01626.

*The protecting shield- 56 prevents sparks "or burning" matter-"fa'lli-ng into the partition 'or wall.

Secured in" the upper; part ofthe- *hou'sing 'Zl is a radiant-mantle 60, of-any fdesired designand material, such as, for example," aiwire screen-or a cellular-plate. Wariou s-" forms of-radiant-mantle A are suitable for this I purpose, 'a very sat-isfactory 1 form beingashown *arid descrihed': li n our-copending application, Serial -No. 2595533,- filed'-'-March 3,- 939. l leatif-rom the burnerWillcause the bbscured ther'oby. 'I he burner -assembly' itself 1s also' desc'r'ibed and illustrated"in greater detail hinlihat ecu-pending application.

cwemayemploy amorrugatedxmetallic heat'dis- :persing element; 8 52by'mcunting it :u'ponthe outer I-surface. of. the housing. 2 1'. z'lihis is 'not essential .1: tosoun invention; howevenzand mayzbe omitted.

midway up the housing 21, where it is semicylindrical in cross-section to a point somewhat below the top 40 of the inner box 26. The semicylindrical cross-section of the reflector extends 5 a substantial distance up from its lower end and thereafter its diameter diminishes in a parabolic .-cu rve. iAt the extremerupperiendthereis an outward horizontal. flare or lipllifi ""Theflip 66 is curved and protrudes outwardly a substantial distance from the forward edge of the frame 25. "The reflector is spaced from the rear wall and 1 asides of the inner box 26 and also from the cylindrical burneryhousing 2l'. The reflector is .formed withwings 61 which are screw mounted The grill I2 is preferably stamped out of sheet steel and finished outside with enamel or other decomtive treatment to harmonize or contrast .withthe frame 25. It is formed so that external flanges '10 thereof extend into the recesses be- .rtween'itheibracketilfil andt-the bracket-43, leaving sa-normal' clearance"! ltibetween the'.bracketi'illl and the flang hand 53, normal olearance Tl-a'be- :tweenzthe fflange s10..:and thecbracket "43. ITIhis .3 oiearancezaccommodates expansion :an'dr contrac- 'LtlCHICOfHthE'TgI'flI. .-'At the ZMDDGI'JEaDdZLIOWGIT ends ofsthewgrill; flanges rl'Z'an'd '13 respect-ively,:-w1'iich emerge with the aflanges' :10, rextend Sinwardly "a v slightly; greater distancethan .t-hei latter. :E'I'he flanges TZvare. formed rwith:.-'slo.ts r'l5:, a-dapt'ed" to vreceivelthe lo gsv35,-sa-nd the: flange. E3 is: formed :with.-h-0les J6 :adapted to receive .the;-spring alatchesdfi the: combination-ct lngs-35 and latches 1.35 sufiicing to! removablysecu-re the grill inrplace z 55- on-the frame.

e40=66 .lon ;the ...reflector,..andan. inturned edge .or

i beadinglil 2on1 the. lip. 8 0. makes .a. substantial seal with)the..edge of .the. horizontal lip r 66. ,S'paced'relatively narrowi circular, guard .mem- 'ber's'83 extend outwardly from the plane face of the grill. and. arwider circular wen-84in, thezsame cylindricalJalaneL as jtheLextensions B3..is, formed near ithellower endiof the,,grill, being located adjacent theburner housing 121'. IIIhis circular web 84, in conjunction with the lower, part of the .reflector28, 'formslinefiect a cylindrical enclosnre'forthe upper portion at'jleastof the-burner fhousing'zl'.

"Al alf moon opening85 is provided inthe grill "belowtheicircular webl84, and a holeBS accom- 15).; 'modates'valve'.stem..

'Ventilatingaperturesflfl and 89 are'formed in 'the'gri'll1'2 -adjacenti'ts upper end, and prefcrably are in the form of horizontal-slots parallel to the slot32 intheheater frame.

Thefra-rnet5=has*anauxiliary ventilating slot 90 formed in 't-he' bottom 'flange 'ofthe lower element 3|.

"-Theheater has beendescribed in units to in- ('licate-more 'clearly the nature of its construction an'wmannerof assembly. Thus, the rough-in 'box Hr-is-firsvmounted in the wall, the-frame assembly is installed in -the Tough-in box, the gas couplings connected,-and,lastly, thegrill is usprunguinto -.placeand the heater is ready for use. In:-opera'ticn,. air for combustion is supplied to :the zhurnerii'l .lthrough 'the open lower ends of the rougheinnbox lwandthe inner box26. Air :reaching :the burner 'through these channels ."cmnes up through: the \wall from outside the The reflector 28 extends from at-pointeaboutflsrroomv sAir;.is lalso .supplied Ethrough-the halfmoon opening 85 in the grill, and a small amount also passes through the ventilating slot to at the lower end of the frame H, the latter two air sources deriving their supply from the room in which the heater is located.

The heat from the burner assembly is of two types, circulating heat and radiant heat. Air heated by the burner circulates by induction up and is deflected outwardly by the reflector, also from the boxes through slots 88, 89 and 32, a circulating hot air current being thus maintained in the room. Radiant heat from the mantle strikes the reflector and is reflected outwardly and some of it downwardly in the same manner that the radiant heat from an electric coil is reflected. The novel form of the reflector insures a radial dispersion of heat in a substantially horizontal plane, some of the heat being directed downwardly toward the floor of the room. The face of the reflector is preferably finished with a heat resisting aluminum finish, either applied to the metal or inherent in the material used.

The bailie 52 aids somewhat in reflecting the radiant heat upwardly in the direction of the reflector 28, and protects the elements below it from excessive heat, and the plate 56 offers further protection to the valve 58. There is a vertical space between the burner housing 2'? and the reflector 23 through which heated air ascends to be deflected into the room. There are two vertical insulating spaces between the reflector and the wall contained within the heater itself, these being between the reflector 28 and the inner box 25 and between the inner box 28 and the rough-in box IE. Warm air originating in these areas naturally rises and passes outwardly through the ventilating slots 89, 88 and 32. It will be observed that the slots 89 are located below the top 4!? of the inner box 2'6 in position to convey warm, air currents forming between the reflector 28 and the inner box 26. The slots 88 are located above the top 4!) of the inner box and permit passage of warm air formed between the box 26 and the rough-in box Ill. As an additional ventilating medium any warm air circulating as high as the upper part of the frame H may pass out into the room through the slot 32. Circulation being thus provided for in separate channels, the air in the channels at progressive distances from the burner is progressively cooler. The burner heat may be intense, and the radiant mantle incandescent, yet the rough-in box will be but slightly warm to the touch.

The outward extending lip 66 of the reflector aids materially in protecting the upper part of the grill, frame, and wall from attack by either circulating or radiant heat, by reason of the fact that it deflects the circulating heat and reflects the radiant heat outwardly away from the upper part of the grill, frame and wall.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A wall gas heater comprising a frame,-a burner assembly supported within the frame, a concave heat reflector mounted Within the frame behind the burner and having an upper portion substantially completely overlying the burner assembly, the extreme upper forward edge of the reflector extending beyond the frame, and a grill formed with a plane section fitting in the frame and a plurality of outwardly curved horizontal protective members with openings between for the passage of heat.

2. A gas heater comprising: a burner assembly, a heat reflector partially overlying and spaced from the burner assembly, an open box partially enclosing the reflector and spaced therefrom, a second open box partially enclosing the first box and spaced therefrom, a grill having a plane face covering the outer edges of the first box, the grill being provided with ventilating apertures communicating with the spaces between the reflector and first box and the first box and second box respectively, and a frame surrounding the grill and covering the outer edges of the second box.

3. A wall heater comprising: a rough in box adapted for installation in an opening in a wall, and having an inturned flange, an intermediate box supported on the flange within the rough in box and having an inturned flange and a burner supported on the last mentioned flange within the intermediate box.

4. A wall heater comprising: a rough in box adapted for installation in an opening in a wall, and having an inturned flange, an intermediate box supported on the flange within the rough in box, a burner mounted within the intermediate box, and a reflect-or mounted on the intermediate box and disposed between the intermediate box and the burner.

5. A wall heater comprising: a rough in box adapted for installation in an opening in a wall, and having an inturned flange, an intermediate box supported on the flange within the rough in box, a burner mounted within the intermediate box, a reflector mounted on the intermediate box and disposed between the intermediate box and the burner, and a protective grill detachably mounted on and disposed within the frame.

6. A wall gas heater comprising a frame, a burner assembly supported within the frame, a heat reflector mounted within the frame with its lower end behind the burner assembly, and a grill detachably mounted in the frame and having a base portion associated with the reflector to encompass the burner and an upper portion combining with the upper portion of the reflector to form a reflective pocket above the burner assembly adapted to disperse heat from the burner assembly outwardly in a substantially horizontal direction.

FRANK E. WOOD. WILLIAM G. CARTTER. 

